Adjustable wrench



Nov. 21, 1939. A R BUTING 2,181,012

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH Filed March .'Svl, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORN EYS Nov. 2l, 1939. A. R. BUNTING 2.181,012

ADJUSTABLE WRENCH 2 Sheefs-Sheet 2 Filed March 51, 1938 wh w mw Nm. .,/v

AT TORN EYS 1.5;; wrench beingv designed for heavy duty purposes Patented Nov. 21, 1939 Unirse s-'rArEs l gisten ADJUSTABLE-WRENCH i, f L Alwyn R1 Bunting, Portsmouth, ya;

Application March 31,

I 2 Claims. The invention relates to an adjustable wrench and more especially to an adjustable, automatic pressure and pressure releasing wrench.

The primary. object of the invention is theprovision of a wrench of this character, wherein an encircling `grip can be hadton a piece of work and through frictional contact the work can be held, the wrench being adjustable so'as to accommodate Work of different sizes and is assured of a positive and secure grip to avoid slippage in the use of such wrench. f

Another `object of the invention is the provision of a wrench of this character, wherein leverage may be had to hold a piece of work, the

and is adaptable for gripping tubes, rods, pipes or the like, the wrench being susceptible of flexibility to conform to irregular surfaces of a piece of work to be gripped thereby.

A further object of the invention is the provi-y sion of a Wrench of this character, wherein the construction thereof is novel in its entirety and a maximum grip can be had on a piece of `work for the holding thereof. v

A further object of the invention-is the provision of a wrench of this character, which is sim.`

plein its construction, readily and veasilyadjusted, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation: easy of application and removal on and froml work, possessed of maximum strength and durability and is inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and yother objects in view, the inven-v tion consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the referred and modified forms of embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims here unto appended. l g

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a wrench constructed in accordance with the invention and `applied to work.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view thereof. v

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure lis a fragmentary sectional View taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary edge elevation of a modified form of gripping element.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan View showing a further modification.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary side or edge elevation thereof.

193s,.- sen'al No; d. 19a/257 (cisl-64) Figure sig a fragmentary vertical longitudinal sectional View showing a modified for-lnvv of wrench. 1 W

.Figure 9 is `4an 'enlarged transverse View`4 on kthe lined-9 of Figure 8. Y

Figure A10 -is .afragmentary plan view modicationshownin FigureS.- y j l Figure ll isan enlarged sectional view'taken on theline II-,,II.ofFigure-9. FigurelZ is afragmentary plan 'view of the sectional handle,end-ofthewrench shown in Figure 8;

Referring to the drawings in detail, particularly Figures 1 tori inclusive, illustrative ofthe preferredzembodiment `of the wrench constituting the present invention, A designates generally the wrench. and involves lan elongated opposite ilattened faced body rIllof tubiformito, provide a longitudinal runway I I therethrough and open-- ing through opposite ends of the same. The end portion I2 `is slightly contractedtand isfformed with a curvilinear.y lobe( I3 projecting ona curvature from the said body to provide. a stationary work engaging jaw I4 having a'serrated work engaging or gripping face I5 for'- positive grip on lcontact with work.

.i'IfheJlobe-carrying end portionv of the body IB is built'fwith spaced paralleltcheeks i6. with the space therebetween opening remotely from the lobe I3 and within. such space to be disposed be.- tween the said cheeks I6 is a rack pinion I'L'its axle I8 being suitably journaled in the cheeks and the pinion is exposed forl finger engagement beyond the cheeks. This pinion I'I meshes with rack teeth I9 formed on a flexible gripping tape 20 which has one end releasably'anchored at 2l between the cheeks I6 and at one side of the l pinion I'I while thev other `end of such tape is -permanently anchored at 22 between the cheeks at the opposite side vof the pinion Il, the tape` being movable through the body I0 and that portion exposed or remaining outside of the said body pinion 29 is adjusted by the latter.

stretch of the tape 20 therein particularly when embracing or encircling the work.

From Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings it is apparent that proper leverage can be had on the work in the use of the wrench and that the latter will iirrnly and positively grip the same, the rack teeth I9 at the gripping stretch of the tape 20 enables gripping contact with the work, the jaw I4 coacting with this loop or encircling stretch of said tape when gripping the work.

In Figure 5 of the drawings there is shown a slight modification, wherein the tape, a portion being indicated at 25, has formed saw-like teeth 26 thereon.

In Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings there is shown a slight modification, wherein the tape is made up of a plurality of pivotally connected links 2l, these having the rounded nibs 28 constituting gripping teeth. l

In Figures 8 to 11 of the drawings there is shown a modified form of wrench, wherein the rackr toothed tape 28 meshing with the rack A retaining latch 30 is pivoted at 3l for removably securing one end of the tape anchored. Coacting with the pinion 29 is a locking shoulder 32 fast to and carried by the axle 33 for saidl pinion. This axle is laterally displaceable so as to move the lock shoulder 32 into and out of locking positions at 34 and 35, respectively, with the pinion 29 and body 36 of the wrench, the axle 33 being acted upon by a leaf spring 31 carried by the body 36 to hold the shoulder 32 in locking position. 'I'he axle has formed therewith a pushV button head 38 so that it can be manually moved to release the shoulder 32 and unlock the pinion 29.

The body iand also the said body 36 is of elongated formation for effective leverage inthe use of the wrench and at the hand gripping end are perforated ears 39 and a hook 40, respectively, the latter being usable for prying purposes while the ears can be used for hanging of the wrench upon a nail or the like when not in use or for fulcrum purposes during the use of the hook "lll as a prier.

This latch 36 swings over seats 4I provided in the cheeks of the body 36 for accommodating the anchoring` element y42 for holding one end of the tape 28, the seats 4l being inclined in a direction to avoid the possibility of the slipping out of the element 42 therefrom when the tape 28 is embracing a piece of work. r

In Figures 12 and v13 of the drawings there is shown a slight modication of the invention,

wherein the handle end 43 of the wrench has in opposite ilat faces thereof wood inserts 44 constituting grip surfaces Yon said handle end to avoid the slipping of the hand when manipulating the wrench.

In Figure 14 of the drawings there is shown a further modification of the invention, wherein the handle end 45 has telescoped thereon a handle extension 46, being releasable therefrom and increases the leverage of the wrench.

The 'wrench of the construction before set forth is serviceable for light and heavy duty performances and the work engaged thereby will be positively and firmly held and gripped, the wrench active as an adjustable, automatic pressure and pressure releasing wrench.

' What is claimed is:

1- A wrench of the kind described comprising an elongated body forming a lever having a runway longitudinally therethrough, a flexible gripping tape having the ends thereof joined with the lever for movement of said tape within the runway and looping said tape beyond one end of said lever, rotatable means fitting the lever and engaging the tape between its joined ends for bodily moving said tape and increasing or decreasing the loop formation thereof, means coacting with the last-named means for releasably locking said means, a lobe formed with the lever and having a curved serrated work-engaging face next to the loop formation of said tape beyond the end of the lever, said first-named means including a toothed pinion, and rack teeth formed on said tape vand engaged by the said pinion.

2. A wrench of the kind described comprising an elongated body forming a lever having a runway longitudinally therethrough, a flexible gripping tape having the ends thereof joined with the lever for movement of said tape within the runway and looping said tape beyond one end of said lever, rotatable means fitting the lever and engaging the tape between its joined ends for bodily moving said tape and increasing or decreasing the loop formation thereof, means coacting with the last-named means for releasably locking said means, a lobe formed with the lever and having a curved serrated work-engaging face next to the loop formation of said tape beyond the end of the lever, said first-named means including a toothed pinion, rack teeth formed on said tape and engaged by the said pinion, land means for releasably joining one end of the tape with the said lever.

ALWYN R. BUNTING. 

